Amid a U.S. government shutdown and Argentina’s tense election year, Washington’s $20 billion lifeline to Buenos Aires blurs the line between economic policy and political loyalty. As President Milei battles inflation and a collapsing peso, Trump’s support intertwines U.S. aid with electoral stakes. With China’s influence expanding in Argentina’s energy and lithium sectors, this move exposes a fragile economy and a deeper power struggle. Could this deal redefine influence in the Americas?

After a delivery driver was murdered by riot police, Indonesia’s flaring protests erupted into flames. President Prabowo Subianto, a former general under the 33-year military dictatorship, is now aiming to undermine democratic institutions in favor of what he calls a “polite democracy”. As he increases military presence and props up the elite, Indonesians and their SEA neighbors are faced with a question: at what point does the shadow of an authoritarian past fully engulf a recovering nation?

In 2022, President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev announced the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. This decision sent shockwaves throughout the nation, turning years of ambiguous discussions into a concrete proposal. Internal debates reignited, with active voices from both pro and anti-nuclear factions alongside concerned citizens. To address these disputes, a referendum was scheduled for October 2024 to determine the future direction of Kazakhstan's energy policy.